The Prostate Net (http://www.prostate-online.org/), founded and headed
by Virgil H. Simons, has developed the Barbershop Initiative (http://www.prostate-online.org/barbershop/) as a nationwide program in which medical centers recruit and train barbers, primarily in minority communities, to serve as first-line educators and outreach
coordinators focused on prostate cancer. The medical centers agree to provide free screenings to patients referred by the participating barbers. Ultimately, it is envisioned that the program will expand to include other diseases besides prostate cancer.